College Students State That Remembering 9/11 Is Offensive To Muslims
In a time when many are offended by numerous reasons from one level to the next, it shouldn’t be overly surprising when a new situation comes around. Students at the University of Minnesota rejected a proposed moment of silence for victims of 9/11 as they believe remembering it would offend Muslims.
According to the Daily Beast, it has now gotten to the point in civilization that remembering 9/11 is considered offensive.
Theo Menon is a representative for the Minnesota Student Association (MSA) and a member of the College Republicans. On October 6, he noticed that the university was not doing anything to memorialize 9/11, so he brought forth a proposal to the MSA in order to get that very thing done in some way.
According to PBS, the resolution was quite short and straight to the point.
“That the Minnesota Student Association formally recommends to the University Of Minnesota Administration that there be a moment of recognition on the morning of September 11th, 2016 and all years following.”
It’s a simple enough request, but things got a bit odd after it was made, the Minnesota Republic reports.
David Algadi, the at-large MSA representative ad Director of Diversity, spoke out against the resolution presented by Menon. Algadi actually brought forth severe criticism of it and responded with a point that emphasized 9/11’s status in history as a national tragedy.
“The passing of this resolution might make a space that is unsafe for students on campus even more unsafe. Islamophobia and racism fueled through that are alive and well.”
As can be seen in the resolution, there is no mention of Islam whatsoever, and it didn’t come down on Muslims or anyone for that matter. There was no talk of the terrorists responsible for 9/11 being Muslims or that anyone should come down upon the religion or the community.
The Washington Post obtained copies of emails sent from Algadi with his response to the resolution. He was “very passionate” in his opposition of the resolution from Menon, and he then went on to explain exactly why that is.
“In addition there is a particular racial politic present wherein when folks of color do something it becomes a stereotype, when white folks do something it becomes forgotten. Dylann Roof? James Eagan Holmes? Joseph Stack? Timothy McVeigh? When will we start having moments of silence for all of the times white folks have done something terrible?”
Many members voiced support for holding a moment of recognition for the victims of 9/11, but considering the intense situation that has now come about, they don’t know how it can be done.
The original resolution wasn’t met by opposition from just Algadi either. A majority of government representatives stood by him as the resolution was voted down by a vote of 36-23. If it were up to the students, there would be no moment of silence come September 11 in 2016 and beyond.
MSA’s Speaker of the Forum and President have reached out to Algadi in hopes of coming up with a different solution. They’re hoping that a different resolution can be crafted and put together to be presented at the next forum and be one that is acceptable by everyone.
It won’t be needed though as Eric Kaler, the University of Minnesota President, announced that he would formalize the moment of silence in remembrance of 9/11 anyway.
No one ever said that Algadi was wrong in his way of thinking that there is opposition against Muslims and bigotry that does exists. The only thing is that college students putting forth a resolution to remember 9/11 had nothing to do with Muslims, offending them, or upsetting anyone else.
[Photo by Eric Thayer/Getty Images]
